Cessna service center expected to open in Anderson by 2013

ANDERSON COUNTY - The Cessna Aircraft Co. plans to establish a service center at the Anderson Regional Airport by January, aviation officials said Wednesday.

The Anderson County Council unanimously approved an agreement between the county and the company this week. Airport officials said Wednesday that the service center will draw pilots from at least a 300-mile radius as they seek parts and service for their planes. Officials also said the closest similar, active Cessna service center is in Columbia.

Two maintenance workers already at the airport will take on the Cessna work. The county also plans to hire a part-time contractor to cover Cessna jobs.

County officials said they hope the service center will significantly boost the revenue stream at the airport, though they have not yet made public an estimate of its expected economic effect.

Jet-fuel sales and rentals of the airport's 45 hangars now pay for most of the airport's operations.

"We think this service center will be a really good addition for us," said airport manager Steve Vibbard.

Anderson County must provide five business references to Cessna and must be willing to "cooperate fully with Cessna's efforts" to gather background information on the county, according to the agreement that the council approved.

The county also must provide written notice to Cessna if it ever intends to "sell or otherwise dispose of" the Anderson Regional Airport. Further, the agreement requires the county to give Cessna at least 30 days notice before there is any change in the management of the airport.

The agreement also sets up series of "prospect identifier payments" for which the county could be eligible.

If the county provides a lead to Cessna identifying a person or business interested in buying a plane, and that plane is purchased by the prospect within a year, the county could be eligible for such a payment, according to the agreement.

The agreement shows a payment would range from $2,000 to $50,000, depending on the kind of plane purchased and whether the aircraft is new or used.